SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside Western Capitals had a new face on the ice Tuesday afternoon.

Midget-aged defenceman Sebastien Cormier of Stratford practised with the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) team after attending the training camp of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats.

“He’s a first-round pick (fifth overall), and we expected he’d be able to play for us this year,” said Capitals general manager Pat McIver. “We knew he was going to be close in Moncton, and we still took that chance.

“We think he’s going to be a good player for us.”

In 34 regular-season games with the Charlottetown Mark’s Work Wearhouse Islanders of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League last year, Cormier recorded 14 points, including three goals, and 70 penalty minutes.

The 17-year-old Cormier, who is five-foot-11 and 175 pounds, saw limited time with the Caps as an affiliated player during the 2013-14 campaign.

Schedule

The Capitals, into the second week of training camp, also practise at Eastlink Arena on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Friday is an off-day before the Caps wrap up the pre-season schedule with a home-and-home series against the Amherst Ramblers. The teams meet at the Amherst Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and are back at Eastlink Arena on Sunday for a 7 p.m. start.